2004 Beekeeping Institute

June 3-5, 2004

Towns County High School
1400 U.S. Hwy. 76
Hiawassee, Georgia

Young Harris College and the University of Georgia are
offering the thirteenth annual Beekeeping Institute, June 3-5, 2004.
Since its inception in 1992, the Institute has grown to become the largest
and most comprehensive beekeeping educational event in the Southeast,
offering classes and workshops for beekeepers at all levels of experience
and sponsoring the Georgia Master Beekeeper Program (GMBP). For 2004
we have an exciting roster of speakers and – in response to student
evaluations – longer workshop periods.

Due to renovations at the College,
this year’s Institute will be held at
Towns County High School on the east side of Hiawassee on Highway
76.

The Institute proper, Friday and Saturday, features a 2-track system
– one track for experienced beekeepers and another for beginners. Facility
limitations force us to cap enrollment at 150. A limited enrollment
ensures a more comfortable learning environment for everyone, but makes
pre-registration mandatory. If you cannot pre-register, please call
us first to make sure there’s space before you make the trip.

Thursday June 3rd is dedicated to training and certification
examinations for the GMBP Journeyman and Master levels and the Welsh
Honey Judge qualification. Training and certification for the GMBP Certified
level are incorporated into the normal activities for the beginners’
track Friday and Saturday. Details for both programs are included in
this brochure.

The Institute faculty represents a diverse cross-section
of apicultural experience, from university academicians to extension
agents, supply manufacturers to queen breeders, hobbyists to seasoned
honey producers. Institute participants are encouraged to bring a full
slate of questions and take advantage of the assembled expertise.

One of the most rewarding opportunities of the Institute
is its annual Honey Show. Besides typical categories in honey, the Honey
Show includes classes in photography, art, candles, section comb honey,
mead, and beekeeping gadgets. We strongly urge students to participate
in the Institute Honey Show, even if it is your first time at competing.
Cash prizes are given to winners.

All awards and certifications are announced at the Closing
Convocation on Saturday.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2004 Beekeeping
Institute!

THURSDAY, June 3(Thursday is dedicated for those wishing to qualify for Journeyman,
Master Beekeeper, or Welsh Honey Judges’ Certifications).

Dr. Paul Arnoldis Professor of Biology at Young Harris College
and co-founder and host of the Beekeeping Institute. A botanist, Paul
brings to the Institute a special expertise in honey plants and their
pollen.

Jennifer
Berry is Apicultural Research Coordinator and Apiary Manager
at the University of Georgia. Jennifer’s research has been published
in American Bee Journal, Annals of the Entomological Society of America,
and Journal of Apicultural Research. She is actively involved in all
aspects of bee research and education at UGA.

Robert Brewer is Towns County Extension
Director with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service.
Robert is a co-founder of the Beekeeping Institute and Coordinator of
the Georgia Master Beekeeper program.

Selim Dedej is completing his PhD this
summer in the Department of Entomology, University of Georgia. Selim
is former Associate Professor of Animal Production at the Agricultural
University of Tirana, Deputy Minister of Agriculture for the Government
of Albania, and Fulbright Scholar to the University of Georgia.

Dr. Keith Delaplane is Professor of
Entomology at the University of Georgia and co-founder of the Beekeeping
Institute. A beekeeper of 29 years, Keith’s research and extension work
is focused on mite control and pollination.

Dr. James Ellis is a post-doctoral
research fellow at the University of Georgia. A 2000 graduate of UGA,
Jamie recently completed his PhD at Rhodes University in South Africa.
In March he returned to the UGA bee program to continue his research
on small hive beetles.

Keith Fielder is Putnam County Extension
Coordinator and is this year repeating his popular workshop on wood
working for the beekeeper.

Steve Forrest is President of Brushy
Mountain Bee Farm, one of the largest manufacturers of beekeeping supplies
in the United States.

Dr. Mike Hood is Professor of Entomology
at Clemson University and no stranger to the Institute. A frequent collaborator
with the UGA bee program, Mike is a recognized expert in small hive
beetles and varroa IPM.

Bill Kenefick is a renowned mead maker
from Tampa, Florida. He has been a home brewer for 15 years and mead
maker for 10. Although currently a hobby beekeeper, Bill is transitioning
to sideline status.

Nabor Mendizabal is a MS graduate student
working under Dr. Delaplane at the University of Georgia. A native of
Bolivia, Nabor is a semi-commercial keeper of Africanized bees. For
his thesis he is developing an ambitious six-character bee selection
program.

Dann Purvis operates Purvis Brothers
Queen Breeding Company in Blairsville. Dann is a graduate of Sue Cobey’s
instrumental insemination course at Ohio State University and rapidly
gaining recognition as a breeder of mite-resistant honey bees.

Dr. David Tarpy is the newest addition
to the bee research community in the Southeast. As the new apiculturist
at NC State University, David’s areas of research expertise include
honey bee genetics, breeding, and mating behavior.

In 2004 the Georgia Master Beekeeper Program (GMBP) is
offering qualifications at the Certified, Journeyman, and Master levels.
Training and examinations for the Certified (entry) level are incorporated
into the Beginner’s Track on Friday and Saturday; the higher levels
are covered on Thursday.

Aspirants to the Journeyman or Master levels must
meet advance requirements, including prerequisite certifications,
minimum years of experience, documented public service credits,
and/or documented expertise in at least five of 17 subspecialties.
Bring all required documentation with you for scheduled audits.
Please read details at http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees/GMBP.htm.

Applicants to any level are asked to check their intention
on the registration form and pay the appropriate fee. Questions about
the program may be addressed to GMBP director Robert Brewer at (706)
896-2024.

WELSH BEE KEEPERS ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION

The Welsh Bee Keepers Association has partnered with
the YHC/UGA Beekeeping Institute to offer training and certification
for honey show judges. This is the only partnership of its kind between
the USA and United Kingdom. Entry-level students are given opportunity
during the Institute to complete the first two of four requirements.
The Welsh Honey Judge certification requires (1) attendance at the Thursday
training, (2) documented experience as a steward (judge's assistant),
(3) documented experience as a senior honey show judge, and (4) successful
completion of the oral examination. For most aspirants this sequence
requires one or more years. The oral examination is offered for those
candidates meeting all other requirements. The purchase of an official
judge's smock and hat is required of those candidates ready to take
the exam, and certified judges, when serving as judge or steward, are
expected to wear their official uniforms in respect of the high standards
of professionalism the certification implies. Questions about the program
may be addressed to Robert Brewer at (706) 896-2024.

HONEY SHOW

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the
Honey Show. Cash prizes are awarded on the following basis: First place
winners by class ($50), second place ($40), third place ($30), Best
of Show ($100).GENERAL RULES

Only registered Institute participants may enter.

Judges and stewards are excluded from competition.

Institute reserves the right to limit the number
of entries on a first-come, first-admitted basis.

There are twelve show classes: (1) extracted honey
light, (2) amber, (3) dark, (4) black jar, (5) chunk honey, (6) section
comb honey (either round or wood), (7) mead, (8) candles (molded or
dipped), (9) molded beeswax (a single molded piece of two pounds or
more), (10) original bee-related photography, (11) original bee-related
art, and (12) beekeeping gadgets. Contestant may enter in any or all
classes but may enter only once per class.

All honey and beeswax entries must have been produced
by the submitter and within the last 12 months. This restriction does
not apply to entries in mead, photography, art, and gadgets.

All entries for honey and candles must be submitted
in triplicate: i.e., three matching jars of honey or three candles.